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    The Children's Book Review

    Fragments: Journeys from Isolation to Connection | Book Spotlight

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Novels for Kids and Teens Teens: Young Adults
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    Fragments: Journeys from Isolation to Connection
    The Children’s Book Review

    Fragments Book Cover: Photo by Novel Photographic

    Eight young people navigating high school and beyond, each struggling to hold on – to family, to friends, to a piece of themselves. Soon to be a film (supported by the ACT Government), Fragments moves from a place of disconnection to connectedness. It’s a powerful and timely mental health resource for young people and their families.

    Book Cover Photo by Novel Photographic.

    About the Book

    Fragments Book Cover

    Fragments: Journeys from Isolation to Connection

    Written by Maura Pierlot

    Ages 12+ | 126 Pages

    Publisher: Big Ideas Press | ISBN-13: 978-0645099805

    I feel like I’m a piece, a fragment that’s missing all the good bits, but I don’t know where to find the rest … the parts I need to work properly. I bet they wouldn’t fit anyway. (Lexy, age 17)

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Eight young people navigating high school and beyond, each struggling to hold on – to family, to friends, to a piece of themselves. Perhaps you know them. The bubbly girl who keeps telling you she’s okay. The high achiever who’s suddenly so intense. The young teen obsessed with social media. The boy challenged by communication. Every single day they, and others, are working hard to keep it together. So hard, they don’t see their friends are struggling, too. Through eight imagined stories, Fragments moves from a place of disconnection to connectedness.

    The action of Fragments takes place in the minds and hearts of an ordinary group of young people. Their stories encompass anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, gender dysphoria, social media, bullying, family dysfunction, cross-cultural diversity, and more, culminating in a sense of hope. Although set in Australia, their stories could take place anywhere.

    From the Playwright: Rarely presenting as neat packages, mental health issues often involve feelings and behaviors with jagged edges and blurred origins. Fragments embodies the theme that stress at home, at school, and in life is challenging young people beyond their usual coping abilities, leaving them disenfranchised and vulnerable. So much of adolescent life is spent looking inwards that it’s perhaps not surprising that mental health issues are often internalized. I wrote Fragments to start a conversation. It’s only when we speak openly about mental health issues – without fear or judgment – that we can chip away at the stigma that prevents many people from seeking help. It is my hope that the work will find its way into schools in Australia and overseas. The publication includes a comprehensive Study Guide, detailing activities and curriculum links for English, Drama/Arts, Health & PE, Civics, and more.

    A powerful and timely mental health resource for young people and their families. Essential reading for high school.

    Buy the Book
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    About the Author

    Maura Pierlot is an award-winning author and playwright who hails from New York but has called Canberra, Australia home since the early 1990s. Her writing delves into complex issues including memory, identity, self, and, more recently, mental health. Following its sellout 2019 season in Canberra, Maura’s debut professional theatre production, Fragments is being adapted for the digital space, supported by artsACT. The work is published online by Australian Plays Transforms and in print by Big Ideas Press.

    Maura is a past winner of the SOLO Monologue Competition, Hothouse Theatre for her play, Tapping Out. Her plays have been performed in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and Hollywood. A former medical news reporter and editor of Australian Medicine, Maura also writes for children and young adults. In 2017 she was named winner of the CBCA Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program, and recipient of the Charlotte Waring Barton Award, for her young adult manuscript, Freefalling (now True North). Maura’s debut picture book, The Trouble in Tune Town won the 2018 ACT Writing and Publishing Award (Children’s category) along with international accolades.

    Maura’s poetry, short stories, microfiction, and essays appear in various literary journals and anthologies. Maura has a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate, each in philosophy, specializing in ethics. When she’s not busy writing, Maura visits schools and libraries as a guest reader and speaker, serves as a Role Model for Books in Homes, and contributes reviews for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s online magazine, Reading Time.

    For further information on Maura and her work, Fragments please visit: https: //maurapierlot.com and https: //fragmentstheplay.com.

    Maura Pierlot Author Photo

    What to Read Next:

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    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Maura Pierlot Mental Health
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    57 Comments

    1. Barbara on September 6, 2021 5:48 pm

      This would be a wonderful book for my sons school where he teaches.

      Reply
    2. Brittany Gilley on September 6, 2021 6:16 pm

      I think my eldest niece would love this book

      Reply
      • Shelly Peterson on September 9, 2021 6:09 pm

        This would be a great book for my niece.

        Reply
      • Mary Songer on September 20, 2021 7:40 pm

        It would be interesting to see the similarities and differences since this is set in Australia.

        Reply
    3. Austin Baroudi on September 6, 2021 7:15 pm

      Sounds like an interesting read, and the amazon bonus is just icing on the cake! Thanks so much for the chance!

      Reply
    4. Sunnymay on September 6, 2021 8:54 pm

      Mental Health is a topic that has received more press and attention lately. It’s a book to give to teens and for parents and teachers to understand better the emotions and behaviors that may not have a chance to be named.

      Reply
    5. vickie couturier on September 7, 2021 3:31 am

      id love the book and the amazon card

      Reply
    6. Linda Gawthrop on September 7, 2021 6:12 am

      Knowing you are not alone is so important especially in thee turbulent times.

      Reply
      • Anita C on September 29, 2021 3:11 pm

        I would give to my son for more books

        Reply
    7. Heather Swanson on September 7, 2021 8:21 am

      Such an important book for all ages.

      Reply
    8. Janel Lafferty on September 7, 2021 9:57 am

      Love to win this book to give to my niece.

      Reply
    9. icefairy on September 7, 2021 11:41 am

      Sounds like a great book to read for teens and their parents.

      Reply
    10. Kelly D on September 7, 2021 11:56 am

      I would like to win because this would be a good book for my teens to read.

      Reply
    11. Nancy Jachcik on September 7, 2021 1:05 pm

      I think my teen granddaughter would really be interested in this book.

      Reply
    12. Cheryl Bomar on September 8, 2021 8:16 am

      I would love to give this to my daughter-in-law who is a teacher and she could share it with her kids. Thanks for the chance!

      Reply
    13. Kakhaber Khmelidze on September 9, 2021 11:30 am

      Thanks for your great job. I love thechildrensbookreview.

      Reply
    14. Mary Songer on September 9, 2021 6:33 pm

      This book looks very good. Anything that helps kids cope with all the stresses of life.

      Reply
      • Anita C on September 23, 2021 4:35 pm

        so many books

        Reply
    15. Sherry on September 9, 2021 11:56 pm

      My niece would love this book.

      Reply
    16. Trix on September 10, 2021 8:26 am

      This sounds like it could help a lot of people! (I think I forgot to comment yesterday, so that’s why I didn’t matk it down for today in the widget…)

      Reply
    17. wendy hutton on September 10, 2021 11:49 am

      I would love this as the book sounds amazing, and I love to shop on amazon

      Reply
    18. Mary Songer on September 10, 2021 4:06 pm

      It’s interesting that the author’s degrees are all in philosophy, specializing in ethics.

      Reply
    19. Linda on September 10, 2021 10:43 pm

      This sounds like a great book exploring mental health issues.

      Reply
    20. Anita C on September 11, 2021 2:43 pm

      I would love to win this for my niece

      Reply
    21. Mary Songer on September 11, 2021 5:42 pm

      I want to win because my family is increasing with more children and I think this book would help raise healthier children.

      Reply
    22. Rhonda Martin on September 11, 2021 6:00 pm

      I would like to read this book. It sounds like what everyone is going through or while. My house recently burned down and I lost both my kindle collection and my hard book collection. I spent a month in the hospital and I’ve wated 6 weeks with no television. I am taken this time trying to read some great books.

      Reply
    23. Mary Songer on September 12, 2021 1:07 am

      I would love to be able to give this book to my two nephews who both teach in high schools.

      Reply
    24. Anita C on September 13, 2021 3:54 pm

      My son has a book obsession. I would love to win this and encourage him to keep on reading

      Reply
    25. Elizabeth on September 14, 2021 7:21 pm

      I think readers of many ages will get important things from this story!

      Reply
    26. bill norris on September 14, 2021 9:50 pm

      I’d buy more books if I won.

      Reply
    27. Anita C on September 15, 2021 2:17 pm

      A great book to give to my child

      Reply
    28. Mary Songer on September 15, 2021 6:09 pm

      I know several teachers who would be interested in this subject. I’d like to win it for them.

      Reply
    29. Anita C on September 16, 2021 4:54 pm

      I would get more books for my son

      Reply
    30. Mary Songer on September 16, 2021 6:09 pm

      I would love the chance to win and get more books.

      Reply
    31. Shirley O on September 17, 2021 11:56 am

      My niece would love this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

      Reply
    32. Mary Songer on September 17, 2021 10:15 pm

      I like that a comprehensive study is included.

      Reply
    33. Natalie on September 18, 2021 12:48 pm

      I would love to win this book because it talks about real struggles young adults face!

      Reply
    34. Anita C on September 21, 2021 5:16 pm

      I was reading some blogs that reviewed this. Nothing but positive reviews

      Reply
    35. Anita C on September 22, 2021 12:51 pm

      my son can purchase more books

      Reply
    36. Tracie Cooper on September 22, 2021 3:17 pm

      My bestie’s daughter would love this book!

      Reply
    37. Tracie Cooper on September 25, 2021 6:55 am

      I would love win this book to read myself and share with my bestie’s granddaughter as well!

      Reply
    38. Debbie P on September 26, 2021 8:24 am

      This sounds like a great book.

      Reply
    39. Anita C on September 26, 2021 10:41 am

      Winning encourages my son to read more. He can get more books

      Reply
    40. Jodi Hunter on September 27, 2021 7:00 am

      I would love to win this giveaway for my daughter.

      Reply
    41. Jodi Hunter on September 28, 2021 5:08 am

      Sounds like an interesting book.

      Reply
    42. Ed on September 29, 2021 9:27 am

      Looks like a great book

      Reply
    43. Tina on September 29, 2021 9:28 am

      I would love this book

      Reply
    44. Anita C on October 2, 2021 4:33 am

      I would love to win and support my son’s book addiction lol

      Reply
    45. xjanelx78 on October 2, 2021 6:02 am

      I’d love to win this to give the book to my nephew , and use the gift card towards his Christmas gifts.

      Reply
    46. Jodi Hunter on October 2, 2021 8:27 am

      I would love to win this book.

      Reply
    47. Terri Quick on October 2, 2021 8:13 pm

      I love shopping on Amazon & reading

      Reply
    48. CB on October 3, 2021 10:48 am

      I think there are wonderful lessons to be learned from this book on mental health. What a great win this would be!

      Reply
    49. JEANETTE H SHEETS on October 4, 2021 3:41 am

      wouldlove to win simly because it grab my attention.seems like a very interesting read ty

      Reply
    50. Buddy Garrett on October 5, 2021 10:57 am

      I would love to win this prize for our granddaugter.

      Reply
    51. sandra on October 6, 2021 6:35 am

      i would like to win this because it encompasses an intriguing array of emotions

      Reply
    52. wen budro on October 6, 2021 12:16 pm

      I would love to win because this looks like an awesome read.

      I pinned but it will not give me credit for it. Pinterest as wlburro

      Reply
    53. AEKZ2 on October 6, 2021 2:42 pm

      I would like to win because I think my daughter would like this book.

      Reply
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